His Texans were a horrible 4-12 in 2017, finishing off a backward year as the worst team in the AFC South and tying for the third-worst record in the NFL.

It was the 0-16 Browns (who fired their general manager). The 3-13 New York Giants (who fired their coach and GM). And then your four-win Texans, who are on the verge of handing a coach with a 31-33 career record and one playoff victory increased organizational power and a contract extension.

"We're having productive talks right now. We've had productive meetings," O'Brien said Tuesday at NRG Stadium, apparently also on the verge of renewing his season tickets and buying a suite. "If you know anything about the McNairs - Mr. (Bob) McNair, Cal McNair - these are very, very thoughtful people, people that care about this organization, care about this city. They don't rush into anything. They're fantastic bosses, people of high character, high integrity. We're having some very positive, productive talks right now."

Productive. Positive. Fantastic.

If you didn't know any better, you'd think Kirby Drive was preparing to host a playoff game for the third consecutive season.

O'Brien commands podium

You do know better, though, since you spent a cold Tuesday flipping through talk radio to hear that the Texans parted ways with five coaches the day after former general manager Rick Smith received a graceful public exit.

"I really respect his decision to step away from football and spend time with his family and help (his wife) Tiffany with her battle," said O'Brien, using the opening remarks of his season-ending news conference to wish Smith and his family "all the best."

Then the questions about the Texans' still-murky future poured in. And since Bob McNair hasn't spoken to the paying public in a while, the coach left standing after a four-year tug of war became the one to shine a little light on all our lingering questions.

New GM names were floated. The Texans hired a search firm to find the ideal person to work with (and, hopefully, get the best out of) the highly demanding O'Brien. Two valued names on Kirby - defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel and quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan - were attached to potential new jobs with organizations also going through major change.

O'Brien commanded the podium, answered what he could, talked around what he could not - Smith would have been proud - and sounded like a man who was finally on the verge of getting more of what he has wanted since 2014.

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Brian T. Smith

Increased power. Stronger support. A shared vision. And what already has become the key word on Kirby in 2018: alignment.

"The big thing for me and I think the big thing for the McNairs … is alignment," said O'Brien, sounding more presidential and GM-like than ever. "Being aligned philosophically on what type of team we want. I am not looking for this, that or the other. I'm just looking for - moving forward with that situation, whatever Mr. McNair decides to do - just alignment is the best way for me to answer that."

Is this the best way for the Texans?

We should have a much better answer for that when the season we're already waiting for unfolds.

The bar isn't a return to 9-7 in 2018 because of a bad-luck '17. And no, overly sympathetic Texans supporters conditioned to mediocrity and annual disappointment, injuries weren't to blame for everything that went wrong last year.

"If you stand up here and say that, 'Hey, the only reason why we lost is because we had guys hurt,' then that's really not … a very good statement," O'Brien said. "We've got a lot of things we have to look at."

With Smith finally out and a fifth-year coach having direct input in the new GM hire and already calling plays, this is set up as the season of no excuses. "It's on me" and "I have to coach better" were already tired, outdated phrases entering a broken 4-12 season.

O'Brien must be better and the roster must improve; real winning with Deshaun Watson must arrive.

"When you get into this business, you realize a lot of it is year to year. That's just the way it goes," O'Brien said. "You've seen coaches (Monday) who were fired who had signed four-year extensions in February."

Be careful what you wish for

Four years after they handed Gary Kubiak's front-door key to the new guy, the McNairs are on the verge of giving O'Brien more back-office sway after the worst year of his career.

Until he wins on the field - consistently, decisively, like the NFL's best - he's one more bad season away from receiving a permanent leave of absence on Kirby Drive.